The National Pizza Awards are back, returning once again in search of the UK’s finest pizza across the hospitality industry.

The dedicated event is open to chefs from across the casual dining and quick service sectors, as well as pubs, bars and hotels. Pizza pros who enter will have the chance to present their pizzas to their peers and compete for the £1,000 winning prize.

Chefs that make it through to the National Pizza Awards final will be competing in hope of delivering the UK’s best pizza. Luigi Forte of Wenlock and Essex scooped 2016’s top prize, and was delighted to be named the Overall Winner on the day.

“It was a great day to come and meet lots of people and other chefs,” says Forte. “A lot of people say it will be good for the company, and the company is really nice and has given me the opportunity. But it’s also for myself, for my life and my experience. It makes me happy. This is the cherry on top of the day and I will put the award in my restaurant, Wenlock and Essex.”

The National Pizza Awards final will take place on Tuesday 3 October 2017 at the Islington Metal Works in London. Entries are open now and the closing date for trade is Friday 25 August 2017. For more information on the event and how to enter, please visit nationalpizzaawards.co.uk.